California's
Academic Performance Index (API) results for 2011 show San Diego
Unified's overall score nearly at the state's target 800 score, with 104
schools scoring at 800 or above and 28 scoring 900 or higher.Among
other large districts around California, only Garden Grove exceeds 800,
at 815; San Diego is second with 798, San Francisco third with 796. The
results were released Aug. 31.

"I want to congratulate the
students, teachers and staffs at all of our schools for their excellent
showing," said Supt. Bill Kowba. "What is particularly impressive is the
growth that has come despite several years of historic budget cuts."

The
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure is used by the federal
Department of Education to determine if a school or district meets the
act's annual growth standards; those that do not are placed on Program
Improvement after two years. Four San Diego Unified schools exited
Program Improvement as a result of these test results: Garfield High
School, Kimbrough and Rosa Parks elementary schools, Garfield High
School, and the King/Chavez Arts charter school.

Despite the
improved scores, 113 schools are now on Program Improvement, up from 95
last year. School targets increased by about ten percentage points over
2010. However, because of differences between the state and federal
standards, 20 schools met the California API target of 800, yet are on
Program Improvement according to the federal government.

"California
has some of the most rigorous standards in the nation and these schools
excel," said Kowba. "Yet parents at these schools will receive a letter
saying that their school is failing. That just is not true."

San
Diego Unified's Board of Education has supported changes in the No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB), including those advocated by state Supt. of
Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, who has called these schools
"mislabled."

Torlakson noted that statewide, 55 percent of
elementary schools, 43 percent of middle schools and 28 percent of high
schools were 800 or above. In San Diego Unified, 59 percent of
elementary schools met target, along with 48 percent of middle schools
and 26 percent of high schools.
Despite the increase, for the
third year, San Diego Unified did not make its AYP under NCLB. In its
third year of Program Improvement, the district will be required to take
corrective actions that are yet to be identified. San Diego Unified
entered Program Improvement in 2009.

Among student groups,
some achievement gaps continued to slowly narrow. For example, while
White students had a gain of 12 API points to 890 and Asian students'
scores rose 10 points to 878, Hispanic or Latino students were up 14
points to 735 and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students increased 14
points to 746.

"We're pleased to see these achievement gaps
continuing to narrow," said Kowba. "Eliminating these gaps is one of the
key missions of our district."